Green Mountain Audio Europas

[JerryLove]

I don't know if curiosity killed the cat: but it's done no good for my wallet.

Yes, I now am the proud(?) owner of a pair of GMA Europas. Once I figure out which end of the mic plugs in where, and clear out an appropriate room, and figure out where I put my "good camera", and have time, I will write up my opinion of them.

For you, my friends, I have become the first non-fanboy to actually hear something from GMA. The are a model made in the early 2000's but no longer. I've seen list prices from $800 to $1200 as their "when new" price. If I can setup some ABX testing, I'll compare them with my PSB 400i's, Sig S2's, and anything else I can scrounge up (wish I had a Studio 20: that would be perfect).

Stay tuned... but don't hold your breath.

PS. First impression of one speaker plugged in sitting on a chair a couple feet from my head: harsh in upper-human-voice. I think that can also be perceived as "bright" or "forward" if I get out of the near-field. Even more odd: according to the mic there's a strong *dip* there.

I even tried pushing some chants through (figuring no primary harmonics below 350Hz). Didn't really help. I'm really gonna have to move stuff around to eliminate the room.

The foam looks far better on these than in the pictures I've seen. The weight is very substantial. The grills are... perhaps less than I expected.

Ahh well, I need to get them setup properly to listen.

 

[JerryLove]

or maybe not...

Something has come loose in what sounds like an upper chamber (behind the tweeter) in shipping in one of the speakers. If I tilt the speaker left and right I can hear it slide. I'm guessing it's the crossover. The speaker makes no appreciable noise.

Aww hell, all that glued on felt is going to make dis-assembly (or more to the point, reassembly) a pain.

It was the best-packed used item I've received. I can only assume it was dropped.

 

[KEW]

Driver type and sizes?
Is this cabinet made with their cast marble?

 

[JerryLove]

Driver type and sizes?
Is this cabinet made with their cast marble?

What? Now I need a tape measure too ?!? *stomps around tossing stuff out of drawers and mumbling oddly*

Yes, cast marble... rather like a Corian counter. Two drivers. Fabric dome-tweeter and paper-cone mid. I haven't measured but I'd guess a 1" and 5" give or take.

It looks like the one in the middle: http://www.greenmountainaudio.com/europa/

 

[Swerd]

Dear Friends

Our brother Jerry is an AUDIOHOLIC . He needs our help . As brother audioholics, we must join up to perform a SPEAKER INTERVENTION to save him from himself.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Dear Friends

Our brother Jerry is an AUDIOHOLIC . He needs our help . As brother audioholics, we must join up to perform a SPEAKER INTERVENTION to save him from himself.

Audioholics enable one another. It's up to sober people to perform interventions...

 

[dkane360]

Audioholics enable one another. It's up to sober people to perform interventions...

But sober people dont understand us and our addictions!

 

[JerryLove]

In fairness: this particular purpose was indeed one of "see for myself" more than any upgraditis. I would have been content to go listen at a local shop... if any had these. It's my sacrifice to save others (well, unless these turn out awesome) from wondering / wasting money.

 

[GranteedEV]

ironically, your review will affect their re-resale value because anyone who will search it will find it

 

[JerryLove]

Yes. Must remember: sell then post review . First I have to get the other one working.

 

[KEW]

ironically, your review will affect their re-resale value because anyone who will search it will find it

Nah! The guys who buy these are not interested in the kind of assessment Jerry would give - too factual and not filled with hyperbole.

 

[highfigh]

I don't know if curiosity killed the cat: but it's done no good for my wallet.

Yes, I now am the proud(?) owner of a pair of GMA Europas. Once I figure out which end of the mic plugs in where, and clear out an appropriate room, and figure out where I put my "good camera", and have time, I will write up my opinion of them.

For you, my friends, I have become the first non-fanboy to actually hear something from GMA. The are a model made in the early 2000's but no longer. I've seen list prices from $800 to $1200 as their "when new" price. If I can setup some ABX testing, I'll compare them with my PSB 400i's, Sig S2's, and anything else I can scrounge up (wish I had a Studio 20: that would be perfect).

Stay tuned... but don't hold your breath.

PS. First impression of one speaker plugged in sitting on a chair a couple feet from my head: harsh in upper-human-voice. I think that can also be perceived as "bright" or "forward" if I get out of the near-field. Even more odd: according to the mic there's a strong *dip* there.

I even tried pushing some chants through (figuring no primary harmonics below 350Hz). Didn't really help. I'm really gonna have to move stuff around to eliminate the room.

The foam looks far better on these than in the pictures I've seen. The weight is very substantial. The grills are... perhaps less than I expected.

Ahh well, I need to get them setup properly to listen.

I Can't say that I have enjoyed listening to ANY speaker from a couple of feet away. That's awfully close even for near-field monitors.

 

[highfigh]

Something has come loose in what sounds like an upper chamber (behind the tweeter) in shipping in one of the speakers. If I tilt the speaker left and right I can hear it slide. I'm guessing it's the crossover. The speaker makes no appreciable noise.

Aww hell, all that glued on felt is going to make dis-assembly (or more to the point, reassembly) a pain.

It was the best-packed used item I've received. I can only assume it was dropped.

That falls under 'concealed damage', baby! You can now file a claim with the shipper.

 

[JerryLove]

Actually: My PSBs are <3ft from my ears and above my head (and not angled down). it wasn't easy to find a speaker that sounded good at 3' and -45 degrees vertical.

OK. I have both speakers working now. At least near-field they are very orientation sensitive (I was laying down with the speakers on the floor with me at about my hips about 3ft apart... 'come on: who else would do that test for you guys?) and with some songs they were actually pretty nice.

I've take some on-axis readings *extremely* near at the port, the center of the mid, and the center of the tweeter, as well as a 1m read between the tweeter and mid in a line parallel with the floor.

I'm going to have to look more closely: but the front bezel does not appear to be inclined. The whole face is recessed, with the tweeter area recessed more. There's felt glued *everywhere* presumably to minimize reflections.

I'm hunting for the language to describe my experience (darn Borders and their awful customer service, I need my Dr.Toole book... PS: don't buy from Border's online site).

I will say that, near the port or woofer: the FR chart looks very good up to 1khz. It does start to roll off a bit high, but that's a limitation of the speaker, not an actual flaw. The roll-off itself (at least at that measuring position) looks steep but very even.

My ears hurt a little. I think I need to do some waterfall plots or something because there's a "sharpness" (not necessarily a compliment) that is clearly there, but that I'm trying to locate with the mic. I'll eventually put up the measurements and hopefully someone can help me name what I'm experiencing.

There's also an interesting "silence" to them. Certain instruments and voices seem in higher than normal isolation. I get the impression from some of the other material that's actually depression in surrounding frequencies. the FR charts do agree there's something odd at 1.5Khz.

Don't worry: before I'm done I'll have a real writeup. These are just publicly made doodles at this point.

Later I'll tell you what a speaker port *isn't* for, and you'll understand why I'm not allowed in Sound Advice.

 

[3db]

Give us Bode plots, waterall charts, gant charts and any other kinda chart you can think of.

 

[Shakeydeal]

Jerry,

Glad to see the speakers arrived (somewhat) safely. I will say that like any GMA, the Europas need a little work to get the particular listening distance dialed in. Roy recommends- and I concur- with what he calls an "equal legged T".

Measure the distance from the outside rear corners of the speaker. Then duplicate that distance from the center of that rear plane to your ears. That is a good starting point and you can move in or out accordingly. I ended up a few inches back from that position. That sharpness you hear will go away completely when you are in the right spot. Actually, recordings that you thought were on the edge of being "sharp" will probably sound more "right" with the Europas. When you hear the time alignment done correctly, instruments and voices will seem to have more proper location in the soundstage and be more easily discernable.

In the end, you may not like them. And surely you won't like them from 3' away. But keep us posted of your progress, or lack of.

Shakey

 

[MinusTheBear]

Looking forward to your analysis.

 

[JerryLove]

Shakey.

The soundstage has been a highlight actually. I do worry that the sweet spot may end up picky, but that math be a near-field issue.y

 

[JerryLove]

Sorry for all the typos. Not so good with phone keyboard.

 

[tom67]

cant find the specs on these on the Green Mountain website.......so why not buy the Blumenhofers....made in small chalet above the timberline in German Alps by an isolated genius not infected by myths of world audio market....

http://www.6moons.com/industryfeatures/blumenhofer/1.html